Fruit-press



J. C. DARNALL.

mun PRE SS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2. 1914.

1,1 9%,822. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

qmvalwtoz STATE JOHN C. DARNALL, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

FRUIT-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,462.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. DARNALL, of Staunton, Virginia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fruit- Presses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to fruit presses of the class forming the subject of my United States Patent 1,103,17 5 issued July 14:, 1914: and my object is to provide such a press of very simple construction so that it can be inexpensively made; which will be compact and light in weight so that it may be easily handled and transported and which can be easily and conveniently operated, and at the same time possess the advantages of the press which forms the subject of my said patent, and to this end my invention consists in the press constructed hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a front elevation of a press embodying my invention, with parts in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the base; Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the follower.

My invention as in the case of that of my prior patent is especially adapted for packing fruit, such as apples, in barrels, and it comprises a base for supporting the barrel, and a follower by which the remaining barrel head may be applied and such pressure applied to the apples as is necessary for packing them.

The base consists of a single metal ring 10, upon the top edge of which the barrel rests, and which at its bottom edge rests upon the usual rocker board, upon which the barrel is rocked for the purpose of settling the apples compactly in the barrel. The single, open frame which the base-forming ring constitutes, performs the offices of the two rings 6 and 7 of the press ofmy said patent and I thus make a single element answer for two, for it forms the centering support for the barrel and by biting into the rocker board at the bottom edge, it prevents the barrel slipping when rocked to settle the apples, and I am also able to discard the wooden ring 5 and the attaching bolts.

Attached to the base ring or frame 10, at opposite sides are two vertical legs 11, which reach to a height well above the top of a barrel when on said ring, where they are joined by a horizontal tie bar 12, knee braces 13 being placed between the latter and said legs to stiffen the frame thus produced. Slidably mounted on said legs 11 is a horizontal bar let to which is attached the upper, barrel-head engaging ring 15, the follower being thus constituted. At each end said bar ll has a loop 16 formed by a metal strap 17, through which loop passes one of the legs 11, and thus the follower is guided in its vertical movements. To support it in its lifted position clear of the barrel in the space below, a hook 18 is attached to the center of the tie bar 12 for engagement by a link 19 on the top of the follower. lVhen disengaged from the hook the follower will descend of its own weight to the head of the barrel placed below.

The front edge of each leg 11 is provided with a vertical series of ratchet teeth 20, and pivotally hung from the opposite ends of the follower bar 1 1 are two links 21, to which are pivoted a lever 22, preferably in the form of a bent bar, (so as to form a convenient handle) each end of which is in the plane of a leg 11 and provided with or formed into a dog 23 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth. By rocking the lever up and down, and engaging its dogs with the ratchet teeth in succession, it will be seen that by a gently applied, but powerful pressure, the follower is moved downward by a series of short successive movements which is a highly important thing in packing apples to avoid bruising thereof.

The detent of the lever may be formed into an eye or loop 24: through which a leg 11 passes and thereby the lever held from lateral or sidewise displacement.

A detent pawl 26 pivoted to the follower bar 14 is provided for each leg 11 to hold the follower from rebounding when the feed lever is released after one feeding movement preliminary to another, and the two pawls are pivoted together so that one hand only need to be used to release both when the follower is to be lifted, and a single spring 27 needed to move both into ratchet tooth engagement.

In order that the base may have all rigidity necessary to enable it to stand the pulling strains it is subjected to the legs 11 may be attached thereto by a long, diametrically extending bolt 28, and the latter at midlength passes through a diametrically eX- tending cross bar 29, at right angles to the bolt, and secured at its ends to the ring.

The legs 11 need not be rocked to one side for placing the barrel in the press, but they at all times occupy a vertical position so that in the use of the press, no preliminary manipulation is at all necessary for placing the barrel in the press and removing it therefrom.

With my press there is no danger of bursting the barrel hoops nor displacing the barrel bottom and there is no bruising of apples. There is no danger, as is the case with certain styles of presses now in use, in operating upon barrels that have thoroughly dried out by being kept over from one season to another, of slipping the stares out of place which is a danger which exists by reason of the more or less loose condition of the barrel due to its dryness.

In using the term ring for the part 10, I do not necessarily mean a circular form, but any shape that alfords an open, frame-like member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a press of the class described the combination of a follower, a barrelengaging base comprising a single ring whose lower edge is av bearing edge on which the press may rock and whose upper edge is a barrel support and a connection between the follower and the base permitting movement of the follower with reference to the base.

2. In a press of the class described the combination of a barrel supporting base, a pair of legs rising therefrom, a follower slidably mounted on said legs, a lever connected with said follower, ratchet teeth on the legs for engagement by said lever, detent pawls on the follower to engage the ratchet teeth, and a suspension device for the follower supported by the legs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C. DARNALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

